Sliding door



w.. NoLAN SLIDING DOOR Apvil v7, 1959 Filed Oct. 18

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`ATTn R N EYS United States Patent O SLIDING DOOR William J. Nolan,Woodmere, N.Y. Application October 18, 1957, Serial No. 690,955 3Claims. (Cl. 20-19) pair of body members slidably mounted in the frame,and -wherein the slidable body members are adapted to telescope withrespect to each other.

A still further object of the invention is to provide la sliding doorconstruction which includes a unit that can be conveniently mounted in arecess or opening in a wall, and wherein the sliding door assembly ofthe present invention includes a pair of members which can be moved toopen or closed position, said members adapted to telescope within eachother, so that the door can be moved to open position when desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sliding door assemblywhich is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

yOther objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

-In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, andin which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout thesame.

Figure 1 is an elevational view illustrating the sliding l -doorassembly of the present invention, showing the molding on the frame, andshowing the members in open position.

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational view showing the sliding door unitper se.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4is a side elevational view of the rst body member or sliding doormember, and with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 5 is a side elevational View of the other slidl ing body member.

Figure 6 is asectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line `77 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is an end elevational View taken through the assembly, and withparts broken away and in section.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown a sliding doorconstruction which includes a rectangular open frame that is indicatedgenerally by the numeral 10, and the frame 10 is adapted to be mountedin an opening or recess in a supporting structure such as the wall 11.rPhe frame 10 includes a horizontally disposed upper I- beam 12 whichdefines an upper rail for a purpose to be later described. The frame 10further includes a lower horizontally disposed base 13 which is providedwith an elongated channel 14 therein, Figure 3. As shown in thedrawings, the frame 10 further comprises spaced parallel verticallydisposed end pieces 15 and 16. Extending inwardly from the upper portionof the end piece 15 and secured thereto in any suitable manner is a pairof horizontally disposed L-shaped beams 17.

Slidably mounted in the frame 10 are irst and second body members'18 and19, Figures 4 and 5. The numeral 20 indicates molding or trim which canbe arranged adjacent the outer surface of the unit so as to enhance orincrease the attractiveness of the apparatus or device.

As shown in Figure 6, the rst body member 18 includes a horizontallydisposed bottom wall 21 which is provided with a tongue 22 that isadapted to slidably engage the channel 14 in the base 13. The tongue 22denes therein a groove 23. The body member 18, which is hollow, furtherincludes spaced parallel vertically disposed side walls 24 and anl endwall 25. The top and one end of the body member 18 is open whereby theother body member 19 can move into and out ofthe body member 18.

Connected to the upper ends of the side walls 24 are brackets 26, andjournaled in the brackets 26 are outer rollers 27 and inner rollers 28.The outer rollers 27 are adapted to engage the beams 17, as for exampleas shown in Figure 8.

As shown in Figure 7, the second body member 19 is smaller in crosssection than the iirst body member 18 which is shown in Figure 6, andthe second body member 19 includes a bottom member 30 which has a linger31 depending therefrom, and the finger 31 engages the groove 23 which isdefined by the arcuate tongue 22. The body member 19 further includesspaced parallel vertically dis'- posed side members 29 and a top member32. The top member 32 of the body member 19 is provided with a pail` ofspaced parallel elongated recesses 33 which are adapted to be engaged bythe inner rollers 28. -Extending upwardly from the top member 32 of thesecond body member 19, is a pair of spaced apart support members, androllers 35 are connected to each support member 34, the rollers 35engaging the rail 12. As shown in Figure -2, the numeral 36 indicates astop lip which is adapted to be used for limiting sliding movements ofthe parts in one direction. As shown in Figure 1 for example, the beamor rail 12 may be anchored in place by suitable securing elements suchas the screws 37.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided asliding door construction which is in the nature of a unit that isself-contained and which can be mounted in a suitable supportingstructure such as the wall 11. In use, the frame 10 is adapted to bemounted in a wall such as the wall 11 which may vform partof a store,home, ory other building or locality. The body member 18 is hollow andhas one end open and thisv construction permits the other body member 19to telescope thereinto whereby when a person or object is to be movedthrough the doorway opening, the body member 19 can be moved entirely orpartially intoithe other body member 18 so `as to provide suihcientclearance through the door frame 10.

The pair of body members 18 and 19 are both slidably mounted in theframe so that by moving the body members 18 and 19 to their extendedposition, the space defined within the molding 20 can be closed olf. Itis to be noted that the rectangular molding 20 defines or en` closes anarea which is less than the area of the rectangular frame 10 and byproperly extending the body members 18 and 19, the entire area withinthe molding 20 can be blocked off. Similarly, the body member 19 can bemoved into the body member 18, and then these body members can both bemoved to an out-of-the-way position as shown in Figure 1 for examplewhereby the space within the molding or trim 20 is open so that personscan readily gain access or pass through the space within the molding 20.In View of the fact that the area within the molding 20 is of less sizethan the area within the frame the body members 18 and 3 10, it will beseen that space is provided for receiving 19 as shown in Figure l, a'sfor example when the sliding door unit is in open position. The pair ofbeams 17 are engaged by the rollers 27 so `that the body member 18 isfree to slideback'a'nd forth.

Similarly, the tongue 22 on the lower end of 'the body member 18 engagesthe channels 14 in the base 13 and this arrangement provides a guide for.the 'body member 18 as the body member 18 moves back and forth. Theinner rollers 28 are adapted to engage the recesses 33 in the top of thebody member 19 so as to insure that the body members can telescope witha minimum amount of friction. The inner body member r19 has the finger31 which engages groove 2,3 and this serves to insure that the -bodymembers 1S and 19 will be maintained in their proper alined position vasthey are moved .back and forth. The body member 19 has the supportmembers 34 extending. upwardly therefrom, and the rollers 35 are carriedby the support members 34, the rollers V35 engaging the lower portion ofthe rail or beam 12, as shown in Figures 2 and 8 for example.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapesor sizes.

The sliding door unit of the present invention may be distributed orsold as a package unit so that it can be readily mounted in a wallrecess. The device may be finished with suitable trim or molding asdesired. The sliding dool unit includes the prefabricated body membersor doors 18 and 19. The lip 36 acts as a stop member to limit movementsof the body member 18 in one direction, as for example in order to limitmovement ofthe body member 18 from right to left in Figure 2.

The sliding door assembly of the present invention can be used in areaswhere space is at a premium, and the unit can be quickly andinexpensively and easily installed and the unit may be installed ormounted as a permanent unit in different types of buildings such ashotels, hospitals, homes or the like.

that it is vermin proof, and dust proof as well as warp proof, so thatit is especially suitable for use in closest installations, and the doorwill also help minimize re hazards. The pair of body members are adaptedto be moved by hand,'that is the members are slid or moved back andforth manually.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming withinthe lield of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, ifdesired.

I claim:

1. In a sliding door construction, a rectangular open frame including ahorizontally disposed I-beam-defining an upper rail, said frame furtherincluding a horizontally disposed base provided with Va longitudinallyextending channel therein, first and second spaced parallel verticallydisposed. end pieces extending between said rail 'and vbase and securedthereto, a pair of horizontally disposed L- shaped beams extending'Vinwardly from'the upper lportion of said first end piece and securedtheretorfirst'and second body members movably mountedvin said'frame,said first body member being hollow'and comprising a horizontallydisposed' bottomwall provided withatongue for engage- The unit may belinished in y wood veneers if desired. The device may be made so mentwith the channel in said base, said tongue defining` 1,- a groovetherein, saidrst body member further including a pair of spaced parallelvertically disposed side walls and a vertically disposed end wall, theto-p and one end of said first body member being open, brackets securedto the upper ends of said side walls, inner and outer rollers supportedby said brackets, said outer rollers engaging said beams, said secondbody member being smaller in cross section than said first body member,said second body member' being mounted for telescoping movement into andout .of `said first body member, said second body Amember comprising abottom member having a depending finger for engagement with'the groovein said rst body member, said -second body member further includingspaced parallel vertically disposed side members and a top member, therebeing spaced parallel recesses in the top member of said second bodymember for engagement by said inner rollers, support members extendingupwardly 'from the top of said second body member, and rollers connectedto said vsupport members for engagement with said upper'rail.

2. ln a sliding door construction, a rectangular open frame including aAhorizontally disposed I-beam dening an upper rail, said frame yfurtherincluding a base Vprovided with a longitudinally extending channeltherein, spaced parallel vertically disposed end pieces extendingbetween said rail and base and secured thereto, a pair of L-shaped.beams extending inwardly from the upper portion of* said ltirst end`piece and secured thereto, first and Vsecondv body members movablymounted in said frame, said first b ody member being hollow andcomprising a horizontally disposed bottom wall provided with a tonguefor engagement with the channel in said base, said tongue defining lagroove therein, said rst body member further including a pair of spacedparallel vertically disposed side walls and a vertically disposed endwall, the top and'one end'of said first body member being open, bracketssecured to the upper -ends of said side walls, inner and outer rollerssupported by said brackets, said outer rollers engaging said beams, saidsecond body member being smaller in cross section than said first bodymember, said second body member being mounted for telescoping movementinto and out of said first body member.

3. In a'slilding door constructed as in claim 2, wherein saidsccond'body member comprising a bottom member having a depending lingerfor engagement with the groove in said first body member, said secondbody member further including spaced parallel vertically disposed sidemembers and a top member, there being spaced-parallel recesses inthe topmember lor said second body'member for engagement by said inner rollers,support members extending upwardly from the top of said second bodymember, and rollers connected to said support members for engagementwith said upper rail.

2,614,626 Oct. 21, 195.2

Gracia iSchmitt Feb. .13, 1900

